Weight Loss Drugs Wegovy and Zepbound Not Cost-Effective at Current Prices, Study Finds
• Popular weight loss medications semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) would need significant price reductions of 82% and 30% respectively to meet standard cost-effectiveness thresholds, according to new University of Chicago research.
• Despite demonstrating "tremendous health benefits" including prevention of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular events, the drugs' high costs remain the primary barrier to widespread adoption and coverage by insurers and government programs.
• Researchers predict increased market competition will eventually drive prices down, similar to what occurred with statins, while noting that additional health benefits not captured in the analysis could improve cost-effectiveness calculations.
VIVUS Launches QSYMIA in UAE, Marking First Middle East Market for Obesity Treatment
• VIVUS LLC has launched QSYMIA (phentermine and topiramate extended-release) in the United Arab Emirates for treating obesity in adults and children aged 12 and older, marking the first Middle Eastern country to approve the medication.
• The World Obesity Federation projects that by 2035, approximately 7.5 million UAE residents will be overweight or living with obesity, with current obesity-related costs reaching nearly $12 billion annually.
• VIVUS aims to expand QSYMIA's global reach to over one billion individuals by the end of 2025, with the medication already approved in several European countries under the brand name QSIVA.
GLP-1 Agonists and Novel Therapies Reshape Obesity Treatment Landscape
• GLP-1 receptor agonists are in high demand for obesity treatment due to their cardiovascular benefits, but supply shortages persist.
• Promising new obesity drugs, including cagrilintide/semaglutide and retatrutide, are in late-stage trials, potentially gaining FDA approval by 2027.
• Weight loss from obesity treatments can improve multiple comorbidities simultaneously, such as cardiovascular mortality, type 2 diabetes, and heart failure.
• Obesity treatment is expanding beyond specialist care, with increased patient demand and access through primary care and telehealth services.
Tirzepatide and Semaglutide Show Superior Weight Loss Efficacy in Meta-Analysis
• A network meta-analysis of 31 randomized controlled trials compared FDA-approved obesity medications, including tirzepatide and semaglutide, for weight loss efficacy.
• Tirzepatide (10 mg and 15 mg) and semaglutide (2.4 mg) demonstrated greater weight loss compared to other FDA-approved drugs, without significantly increased adverse events.
• Tirzepatide 15 mg also showed the best results in reducing waist circumference, total cholesterol, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure among the drugs studied.
• While newer medications show promise, older obesity medications may still benefit specific populations, especially when newer options are contraindicated or inaccessible.
© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath